Automatic separating device for photocopying machines



Oct. 4, 1966 C. J. BRUCE AUTOMATIC SEPARATING DEVICE FOR PHOTOCOPYINGMACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 4, 1966 c. J. BRUCEETAL 3,276,771

AUTOMATIC SEPARATING DEVICE FOR PHOTOCOPYING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,276,771 AUTOMATICSEPARATING DEVICE FOR PHOTOCOPYING MACHINES Colin James Bruce and MiklosGeza Fekete, London, England, assignors to Devodias (Photocopying)Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Jan. 12, 1965, Ser.No. 424,930 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Jan. 13, 1964,1,390/ 64 4 Claims. (Cl. 271-18) This invention relates to an automaticdevice adapted to be used with a conveying means for separating twosuperposed sheets of material. More particularly but not exclusively theinvention is concerned with the separation of a master and a copyissuing from a photocopying machine.

The invention consists in an automatic separating device adapted to beused with a conveying means for two superposed sheets, comprising atleast one gripping means adapted to be moved to engage the upper of thetwo superposed sheets in response to the operation of a first sensingmean-s adapted to be actuated by one or both sheets so that the frictionbetween the lower of the superposed sheets and the conveying means movesthe lower sheet relative to the upper sheet which is held by thegripping means and a deflector movable between two extreme positions forguiding the two sheets along two separate paths, a second sensing meansbeing arranged in one of the paths which when engaged by the lower sheetis adapted to operate the gripping means to release the upper sheet andmove the deflector to guide the upper sheet along the other path.

Thus when the separating device is used to separate a master and copyissuing from a photocopying machine, the master is held by the grippingmeans until the second sensing means is actuated which automaticallyoperates the deflector to guide the master sheet along a different pathpreventing it from reaching the developer and becoming soiled.

Conveniently the deflector is pivotably mounted and is adapted to bemoved to at least one of its extreme positions by a solenoid operatedlinkage which also operates the gripping means.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

FIGURES l to 3 show in side elevation three separate stages in theoperation of a device according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a conveyor belt 1 forconveying two sheets of paper, for example, a master sheet 2 shown infull line and a copy sheet 3 shown in chain-dotted line, issuing from aphotocopying machine (not shown). Near the delivery end of the conveyorbelt 1 there is arranged a pressure plate 4 for applying pressure to thetwo sheets 2 and 3 and guiding them below the gripping means of theseparating device comprising two sponge rubber pads 5. These spongerubber pads 5 are pivotally mounted on one end of a linkage 6 supportedat its middle a series of pressure rollers 7, the other end of thelinkage 6 bearing against an abutment 8 of a deflector 9 pivotallymounted at 10.

Arranged in the path of the two sheets 2 and 3 between the pads 5 andthe rollers 7 is a first sensing switch 11 electrically connected to asolenoid 12 or similar energising device for actuating the linkage 6,while a second sensing switch 13 is located in the path of the conveyorbelt 1 below the deflector 9. This second sensing switch 13 is alsoelectrically connected to the solenoid 12, so that operation of thesecond sensing switch 13 causes the solenoid 12 to become de-energised.

The operation of the device will now be described with 3,276,771Patented Oct. 4, 1966 reference to the three stages illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the first stage of the operation (FIGURE 1) both the sheets 2 and 3have passed through the exposure section of the photocopying machine andare carried from this section by the conveyor belt 1 to the separatingdevice. The length and width of the conveyor or belt 1 depends on thesize and the design of the particular photocopying machine to which itis fitted. The pressure plate 4 presses down upon the belt to ensurethat the two superposed sheets are kept flat on the belt surface. In thefirst stage of the operation the gripping sponge rubber pads 5 are inthe raised position and the deflector 9 in the lowered position underthe action of the linkage 6 bearing on the abutment 8. The leading edgeof the sheets pass under the sponge rubber pads 5 and operate the firstsensing switch 11 which energises the solenoid 12.

The second stage of the operation is shown by FIGURE 2 where theenergised solenoid 12 operates the linkage 6 pulling down the grippingpads 5 onto the sheets holding back the master sheet 2. The copy sheet 3which is in direct contact with the convey-or belt 1 is carried by theconveyor belt and continues to move below the pressure plate 4 and underthe deflector 9 which has been released by the linkage 6 and hasautomatically moved to its raised position. The copy sheet 3 operatesthe second sensing switch 13 which de-energi-ses the solenoid 12.

The third stage of the operation is illustrated in FIG- URE 3 where thede-energised solenoid has returned the sponge rubber pads 5 to theirraised position and the deflector 9 moves down. The master sheet 2having been released by the sponge rubber pads 5 is conveyed by the belt1 from below the pressure plate 4 between the bite of the pressurerollers 7 and the conveyor roller where it is deflected by the deflector9 and thus separated from the copy sheet 3 completing the wholeoperation and leaving the device ready for the next cycle.

Although in the example illustrated the leading edges of both the sheets2 and 3 are aligned and operate the first sensing switch 11, theseparation device will work just as efiiciently if one of the leadingedges of the master or copy sheet is advanced with respect to the otherand operate the first sensing switch. The distance between the leadingedges of the sheets will however be limited to the distance between thetrip lever of the first sensing switch 11 and the sponge rubber pads 5for a satisfactory separation.

The deflector 9 may be formed as an integral part of a developing unitto which the copy sheet passes directly from the separating device.Alternatively the deflector can vbe positioned remote from thedeveloping unit in which case the copy sheet, after separation, can passthrough a conveyor system before it reaches the developing unit.

It is to be understood that the gripping means may be made from anysuitable resilient or yieldable material i.e. an expanded elastomericmaterial, rubber or a synthetic plastics material such as neoprene. Itis also possible to make the gripping surface of which may be sharplyknurled, reeded or covered with a plurality of sharp needle points.Instead of being formed in the shape of a pad the grippers may be formedas rollers.

We claim:

1. An automatic separating device adapted to be used with a conveyingmeans for two superposed sheets, comprising at least one gripping meanscapable of being moved to engage the upper of said two superposedsheets, a first sensing means adapted to be actuated by one or both saidsheets to initiate operation of said gripping means such that thefriction between the lower of said superposed sheets and the conveyingmeans moves said lower-sheet relative to said upper sheet, a deflectormovable between two extreme positions for guiding said two sheetsalongtwo separate paths and a second sensing means arranged in one of saidpaths, which sensing means is adapted to be actuated by said lower sheetto release said gripping means and move said deflector to guide saidupper sheet along the other path.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said gripping means comprisetwo sponge rubber pads.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which a linkage is attached tosaid gripping means, a solenoid being capable of being energised by saidfirst sensing means and deenergised by said second sensing means.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said defiector is pivotablymounted and is adapted to be moved to at least one of its extremepositions by said solenoid operated linkage.

7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,130,3944/1964 Hinz et al 27l57 X 3,159,397 12/1964 Zyber 27l57 X ROBERT B.REEVES, Primary Examiner.

H. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN AUTOMATIC SEPARATION DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE USED WITH A CONVEYINGMEANS FOR TWO SUPERPOSED SHEETS, COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE GRIPPING MEANSCAPABLE OF BEING MOVED TO ENGAGE THE UPPER OF SAID TWO SUPERPOSEDSHEETS, A FIRST SENSING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED BY ONE OR BOTH SAIDSHEETS TO INITIATE OPERATION OF SAID GRIPPING MEANS SUCH THAT THEFRICTION BETWEEN THE LOWER OF SAID SUPERPOSED SHEETS AND THE CONVEYINGMEANS MOVES SAID LOWER SHEETS RELATIVE TO SAID UPPER SHEET, A DEFLECTORMOVABLE BETWEEN TWO EXTREME POSITIONS FOR GUIDING SAID TWO SHEETS ALONGTWO SEPARATE PATHS AND A SECOND SENSING MEANS ARRANGED IN ONE OF SAIDPATHS, WHICH SENSING MEANS IS ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED BY SAID LOWER SHEETTO RELEASE SAID GRIPPING MEANS AND MOVE SAID DEFLECTOR TO GUIDE SAIDUPPER SHEET ALONG THE OTHER PATH.